Archive of Our Own

  "What do you want, Thor?  You rarely ever come to visit me, unless it is very important or you want to pester me." Loki sighed and glanced warily at his brother.  Loki was a lean ,and tall man.  He was short compared to his brother and had less muscle. He had black hair that was slicked back and emerald eyes.
  "I guess I must get to the point before you become angered."  at that Thor paused to think of how to put what he was going to say. He finally made up his mind, after a few minutes of silence, to get to the point bluntly."  We have a new member of our family."  He finally said.  Loki froze where he stood, and stared at his brother.
  "How? Is mother pregnant again?  Or are you talking about another pet?"  Loki was staring wide eyed at his brother.  He was in complete and utter shock at the news.  Thor smiled and then looked out the window and back to his brother again.
  "We have adopted a young girl by decree of father."  He said happily.
  "By decree of father?  Why did he do that, and who is this new sister of ours?"  Loki, growing increasingly suspicious of his brothers sinister grin.
  Suddenly, he heard something slide over stone and looked at the now cracked door.  A small human child, that was no more than twelve, by the look of it, was standing there shyly looking through the crack in the door.  Thor's eyes shot wide and he walked over to the door.  He opened it so he could fully look at the girl.
  "Now Kira, you should not be up.  You should be lying down and resting."  Thor half-heartedly scolded her, but the girl simply looked up at him with stunningly blue eyes and then raised a hand to Thor's and held onto his pointer finger looking up at him.
  "Well, since you are up and here I might as well introduce you to your new brother."  Thor sighed and then patted her on the head with the hand she wasn't holding.  Loki stood by, watching in a quizzical silence.  Thor turned back around to face Loki, with the child at his side.  He quickly strode over to his brother, and began to introduce the girl.
  "Loki, this is Kira. She is a Midgardian and is to be our new sister from hence forth."  Thor stated plainly.  Loki stared at his brother, and then stared at the girl, and then back at his brother again.
  "Has father gone as mad as you?  It is bad enough that she is here in the first place but, to become our sister?  Do you even know if the child has any other relatives she could go to or something?"  Loki asked, and sputtered at his brother.
  "Yes I do know her history.  The Avengers told me before allowing me to even meet the girl.  She has no next to family and has had a very hard life for one so young.  Also, Please, brother, lower your voice.  You might frighten the child."  Thor said in a calm, and sad voice.  Kira looked at the two, and then proceeded to walk over onto the balcony, whilst they argue.  She looked around at the scenery and was completely amazed that it looked so peaceful and calm. The sounds of the birds were wonderful!  She jumped up, and was now standing on the top of the railing looking at the scenery on the other side of the semi-translucent barrier.
  Thor's breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of Kira on the railing. He immediately ignored his brother, and dashed over to her. However, there was the problem of the shield that she had so carelessly walked past.
  "Kira, will you come here it is dangerous up there." Thor spoke softly, as if not to spook her.  Kira turned her head to look at him with her innocent eyes.  Then, she went to take a step over to where her brothers were waiting behind the barrier. Suddenly, she slipped on the smooth stone and toppled toward them. Falling off the stone and toward the hard ground at their feet, Thor moved to catch her but, Loki was quicker than his brother.  He stood up,  from the partial crouch position he had caught her in, still holding her close to his chest.
  "Honestly, why should we have such a clumsy Midgardian child?”  Loki was trying desperately to hide the fact that he had fallen for the absurd idea, of having a younger sister to take care of. "Does she even know how to speak?"  Kira looked up at Loki's face.  She was not fooled by his nonchalant behavior, unlike his brother.
  "Come now, Loki, at least try it out."  Thor tried to persuade his brother.  Suddenly, Kira curled herself up tighter to Loki's chest, causing both to look down at her.  She looked up into Loki's emerald eyes.
  "Don't lie about what you feel, Nii-Chan."  Kira stated in a small voice.  Thor’s eyes widened, and he looked up at his brother who was frozen in shock as her words sunk into him.
  "Loki, my brother, you have been graced with the honor of being the first to hear this child speak. At least now, will you let her be our sister?"  Thor said hopefully and Kira looked up at Loki.
  "Oh, stop looking at me like that!  I give up! Okay, I will try this whole 'older brother' thing. If only to make sure Thor does not spoil you."  Then he shivered.  "It is getting cold out here let us adjourn into my living courtiers." He swiftly walked back into the room, and sat down on his couch. Kira yawned as she sat up a little. Then, she proceeded to lay her head on Loki's shoulder. Dark circles began to encircle her eyes as she tried to keep them open. Loki looked down at her, away from his conversation with Thor.
  "You don't have to stay awake, we will still be here when you wake" Loki spoke softly to her.
  "Do you promise?" Kira looked up into his eyes and whispered back.
  "I swear it.  Now, rest up, love, you are in dire need of it." He said that then softly kissed her forehead.  Thor sat across from them in silent glee as he watched Kira nuzzle further into Loki's neck, and proceeded to fall into a deep slumber.
  "I never thought I'd see the day that you would allow a Midgardian to be so close, let alone one that had been shaken by the very touch of anyone, just a fort night ago.  You are truly amazing my brother."  Thor said that as he shook his head.  Loki looked at his brother with a very serious look.
  "Now that she is asleep, I want you to tell me what happened to Kira."  The look that Thor gave him was bone chilling.  It was a look of complete sorrow.
  "May we wait, and allow the Avengers to explain, when we travel to Midgard?"  Thor asked in a strangely quiet voice.
  "But, I am forbidden to leave this room any further than that balcony.  How am I supposed to go to Midgard?"  Loki asked in confusion.  Thor smiled.
  "Father said that if you and the child were able to bond, then you may go to Midgard as the child's protector.  By the way you hold her I can guess that you are already attached to the child.”  Loki sighed as he looked down at her twitching form.  She had become something precious to him in the space of a few hours.  It was so unlike him to have any feelings for a Midgardian, and yet he wanted nothing more than to learn about this little child in his arms.  Loki looked back at his brother and nodded his agreement.
  "I will go to Midgard, but only to learn what has happened to her."  Loki's voice was soft, and carried little reluctance.  Thor smiled yet again then stood to leave.
  "Good, then we shall be leaving in another fortnight.  So as to allow the child much needed rest, and become more accustomed to us.  With that, I bid thee goodnight brother."  With that said, Thor bowed his head once to his brother, and then strolled out of the room.  Loki sighed at the much needed quiet that now rest upon his room.  He looked down at the sleeping bundle in his arms, and then proceeded to slip into a
restful sleep.